Lifeboatmen Collection

Throwing the Life-Line
A member of the lifeboat crew wearing a cork flotation jacket is about to throw out the life-line during a rescue

Inauguration of a Life-boat and Life Boat House at Sunderland, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Inauguration of a Life-boat and Life Boat House at Sunderland, 1858. Miss Burdett Coutts has, with her usual wakeful sympathy

Shipwreck of "The Northern Belle": the Crew of "The Mary White", in their Life-boat, drawn through Broadstairs, 1857

Blessing the Life-boat, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Blessing the Life-boat, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

'The Gales on the South Coast - Dragging the Lifeboat from Brighton to Portslade, 1891. Creator: G Durand
'The Gales on the South Coast - Dragging the Lifeboat from Brighton to Portslade, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Coxswain of Beaumaris Lifeboat and colleague, Anglesey
David Gallichan, Coxswain of Beaumaris Lifeboat leads a crew member from the lifeboat station in Anglesey. The Sunday Times Date: 1991

Filey Lifeboat early 1900s

Launching a lifeboat, early 1900s

Lifeboat Demonstration Day (possibly Scarborough) Victorian period

Tynemouth Lifeboat Victorian period

Lifeboat Demonstration Day early 1900s

Whitby Lifeboatman Henry Freeman Victorian period

Margate Lifeboat early 1900s

Blackpool Lifeboatmen Victorian period

Lifeboat and lifeboatmen

Early Lifeboat Victorian period

Ilfracombe Lifeboat Practice Victorian period

Steam lifeboat Queen early 1900s

Ilfracombe Lifeboat Victorian period

Launching a Lifeboat Victorian period Date: 19th century

The Edith and Annie lifeboat, Southport, Victorian period

Launching the Eastbourne lifeboat, early 1900s

Walton on the Naze Lifeboat, early 1900s

Lifeboat Station, Carrickfergus, Ireland, early 1900s. Date: early 1900s

WW2 Lifeboatmen
An illustration which portrays a British WW2 lifeboatman, who are heroes in peace and doubly valiant in war. Date: circa 1941

Lifesavers by Stettman. Date: circa 1908

Cromer's Motor Lifeboat and Crew at the end of the Town Pier. Date: circa 1910s

Coxswain Robert Hook (of the Lowestoft Lifeboat "Samuel Plimsoll")
1043925 Coxswain Robert Hook (of the Lowestoft Lifeboat " Samuel Plimsoll" ), the Saviour of more than Two Hundred Lives (engraving) by English School

Away to the Goodwin Sands (Dover lifeboat) (oil on canvas)
TW429361 Away to the Goodwin Sands (Dover lifeboat) (oil on canvas) by Miles, Thomas Rose (1844-1916); 61.2x107 cm; Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear, UK; eSunderland Museums; English

Launching the Cullerboats Lifeboat, 1902 (oil on canvas)
TW426864 Launching the Cullerboats Lifeboat, 1902 (oil on canvas) by Jobling, Robert (1841-1923); 50.7x76.7 cm; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The Gallant Rescue by Mrs Wright and Miss Jessie Ace of Men of the Mumbles Lifeboat, at Mumbles Head
1043989 The Gallant Rescue by Mrs Wright and Miss Jessie Ace of Men of the Mumbles Lifeboat, at Mumbles Head, near Swansea (engraving) by English School

Coxwain Cox and His Comrades on Their Mission of Mercy (engraving)
5996225 Coxwain Cox and His Comrades on Their Mission of Mercy (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Coxwain Cox and His Comrades on Their Mission of Mercy)

The recent storms (colour litho)
2818242 The recent storms (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The recent storms. A rescue off Les Sables d Olonne. Les dernieres tempetes)

Tenby Lifeboat, 1853-56. Creator: John Dillwyn Llewelyn
Tenby Lifeboat, 1853-56

Lifeboat Crew and boat - Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Date: 1908

The Coxswain of the Lifeboat Date: 1909

Lifeboat. Lifeboatmen experiencing heavy seas. Date: 1904

Lifeboat, 1806
The Northumberland lifeboat, 1806. Date: 1806

Lifeboatmen, c1870
Three lifeboatmen scan the horizon for seafarers in peril. Date: c.1870

Preparing to launch a lifeboat, 1830s
Preparing to launch a lifeboat into a stormy sea, with the help of a horse and wagon, 1830s. Date: 1830s

Lifeboat men in a rough sea
Lifeboat men rowing their boat in a rough sea, wearing cork lifebelts

Lifeboat men in lifeboat on beach
Lifeboat men in their lifeboat on a beach, watched by local people

Lifeboat Going to the Rescue (engraving)
KW244295 Lifeboat Going to the Rescue (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; Ken Welsh; English, out of copyright

Heroic lifeboatmen. Left to right : Coxswain Henry Blogg of Cromer, Coxswain John Strachan of Peterhead, D F Wiseman of Peterhead, Coxswain Bs Stanton of Boulmer, Coxswain J Rosch of Plymouth

Isle of Wight - Yarmouth Lifeboat Crew
Isle of Wight - The Yarmouth Lifeboat Crew. The large wheels of the trailers are fitted with boards, preventing the wheels from digging into the soft sand of the beach. Date: circa 1910s

Hayling Island Lifeboat returning from a rescue; pulled up onto the beach. Date: 1906

Lifeboats at Padstow, Cornwall
The Padstow Steam Lifeboat Helen Peele (background) at the quayside in Padstow, Cornwall, with the surfboat Edmund Harvey in the foreground

The launching of the Constantinople Lifeboat
An elder lifeboatman lifts his hammer to strike out the holding peg to launch the Constantinople lifeboat and its team of lifeboatmen down a wooden ramp. The boat is called the Shellu

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Unsung Heroes: Lifeboatmen and their Courageous Tales" In the annals of maritime history, one name stands out - Henry Freeman, the brave lifeboatman who defied fate to become the sole survivor of the tragic Whitby Lifeboat disaster in 1861. His story epitomizes the indomitable spirit that courses through every lifeboatman's veins. Throwing themselves into treacherous waters, these courageous individuals embody hope as they skillfully navigate perilous waves to rescue those in distress. The image of a life-line being thrown with precision is etched forever in our collective memory – a symbol of salvation amidst chaos. Captured in sepia tones, vintage photographs transport us back to an era when Filey Lifeboat ruled the seas during the early 1900s. Launching their vessel against towering swells, these valiant men exemplify unwavering dedication and selflessness. Lifeboat Demonstration Day at Scarborough serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment. Crowds gather eagerly to witness these modern-day heroes showcase their skills and equipment – a spectacle that instills awe and admiration for their bravery. Across time and tide, Tynemouth Lifeboat Victorian period reveals another chapter in this noble saga. Against tempestuous skies, resolute men battle fierce storms with unyielding determination - saving lives while risking their own. Whitby's very own hero returns once more as we glimpse into Victorian-era snapshots showcasing Henry Freeman alongside his fellow comrades. Their steely gazes reflect both camaraderie and resilience - qualities that define all lifeboatmen throughout history. Margate Lifeboat early 1900s captures yet another scene from this epic narrative; fearless souls braving tumultuous waters under grey skies. These unsung guardians stand tall amidst crashing waves – beacons of hope for those lost at sea. Blackpool's Victorian-period lifeboatmen emerge from the depths of time, embodying courage and gallantry.